Stars including Johnny Depp and Bruce Willis have offered words of wisdom to new father Prince William.

The 31-year-old royal and his wife Catherine welcomed their first child, a son, into the world yesterday. Johnny has two children with his ex-partner Vanessa Paradis and is confident that William will relish having a family just as much as he does.

“I would say the same thing to any pop, you know,” he told UK TV show Daybreak when asked to give the prince some words of wisdom. “The best thing – the only thing you can do – first of all it’s the greatest thing you will ever experience, without question. It’s the greatest ride ever. The best thing you can do is just love them and be there.”

Bruce Willis also has a lot of experience as a father, raising three grown up daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore. He became a dad for the fourth time last year, when his wife Emma Heming gave birth to a baby girl called Mabel. The Hollywood star has urged William and Catherine to spend as much time as possible with their new arrival.

“Stay home for the first year, don’t go anywhere, just be there,” he smiled. “Play with that baby every day. They will be very good at it, they seem like really cool people.”

Dame Helen Mirren famously won an Oscar for portraying Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 movie The Queen. She was thrilled to hear that the Prince of Cambridge had been safely delivered when the news was announced on Monday evening in the UK. The actress was also full of praise for the 31-year-old duchess, insisting she will be a natural when it comes to parenting.

“It’s a lovely moment in our history, it’s always important when the heir to the throne is being born and it’s very exciting,” Helen smiled at the UK premiere of Red 2. “And I think we are very blessed with the mother, I think we have a great mum there.”

William spent his first night as a father with Catherine and their son at St Mary’s Hospital in London.

The future king, who remained with his wife during the labour, released a statement following the birth, saying the couple “could not be happier”.

He personally phoned his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to tell her the good news, before calling his father Prince Charles and his younger brother Prince Harry. William also contacted the Middleton family, who briefly spoke to Catherine.

The baby will be known as Prince (Christian name) of Cambridge, and replaces Harry as third in line to the throne.

The Muppets are currently shooting their new movie in the city and Miss Piggy admits the announcement has left her feeling broody.

“Kermit, it’s so exciting, Kate is a mommy and Prince William is a daddy and there is a new royal baby boy... It kind of makes me want to have a royal child of my own, what about you Kermit?” she asked her long-term partner during a TV interview. “Can’t you just hear the pitter patter of tiny tadpole feet?”